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Unlikely to be an issue with OUR civil servants...
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by GungetsTuft

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02 September 2010 11:44

The great gold debate

Will gold be an equally good investment going forward?

While many have debated the merits of gold as an investment, one thing stands true: over the last ten years, the gold bugs have had their day in the sun. Chart 1 below shows the performance of gold, the MSCI All Country World Index of stocks, and the Barclays Capital Multiverse Index of global bonds for the last ten years, all rebased to 100, and all stated in US Dollars.

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02 September 2010 06:19

Strike Season, not my favourite time of year

Labour unions need to sacrifice short term gains in return for long term expansion in their constituency.

If you have been a regular reader of this fine publication over the years you may be aware that Strike Season is not my favourite time of year.  You may also be aware that the annual Cosatu march against unemployment is enough to induce an apoplectic fit where I am concerned.  After all, it is my belief that the short-sighted trade unions and a rigid, heavily-unionized labour market are two of the primary contributors to high levels of unemployment.  And, unemployment is the single biggest social problem our country faces.

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02 September 2010 01:34

China ups the ante in Africa

Think China’s been throwing money at Africa? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

African politicians have been visiting the emperor of the developing world in their droves this year.  In August alone, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma made the headlines during his visit to China as did his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who met with China's President Hu Jintao. Let's not forget that Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe was also in town in August, obsequiously giving thanks to his "all weather" friends in Beijing. 

The back-slapping has been mutual. Economic juggernaut China, now on track to becoming the world's largest economy by nudging Japan out of second spot behind the US, evidently sees Africa as very important in its plans to keep up the heady pace of growth. It can't say enough in public to impress upon African leaders that its partnerships on the developing continent are hugely valued, probably more so than ever.

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01 September 2010 12:46

It is sweet and noble to perish for one's country

Scaevola, a modern day Roman Dutch lawyer, examines the debacle in the mining sector.

CAPE TOWN - Dulcia et decora (1) - sed cum contra rectam rationem vel ius naturalis vel ius gentium - irrita negotia

Recent press headlines around turbulent events concerning the Department of Mineral Resources speak volumes. The following random collection show but the proverbial tip of the iceberg:

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01 September 2010 11:54

Top scams on the web

Thousands of users fall victim to internet scams, being able to identify them is the best defense.

Global IT vendor Panda Security has drawn up a list of the most widely used scams over the last few years. These circulating tricks all have the same objective: to defraud users of amounts ranging from R5000 and upwards.

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